United States

Ukraine

Russia

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

At a press conference, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was more confident in achieving a settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war after the Feb. 18 talks between Russian and U.S. delegations in Saudi Arabia, adding that he would probably meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin around the end of February, Reuters reported on Feb. 19. 

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Criticizes Zelensky Ahead of Putin Summit

Qatar

India

Economics

Following Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's Feb. 17-18 visit to India, the two countries released a joint statement in which Qatar pledged to invest $10 billion across a range of Indian sectors, including infrastructure, technology and manufacturing, Reuters reported on Feb. 18.

India, Qatar: Qatar Pledges to Invest $10B in India

Europe

Military & Security

Ambassadors from the European Union's 27 member states unanimously approved the bloc's 16th sanctions package against Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Politico reported on Feb. 19.

Europe, Russia, Ukraine: EU Approves New Sanctions Against Russia, Prepares Military Aid for Ukraine

France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and the European Commission issued a joint statement insisting on being included in any future negotiations concerning Ukraine's fate following a meeting with Ukraine's foreign minister in Paris, France, Reuters reported on Feb. 12. 

Europe, Ukraine: Europe Demands a Seat at the Negotiating Table for Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump held his first officially recognized phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and, immediately afterward, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since retaking office on Jan. 20, Reuters reported on Feb. 12.

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Holds First Official Phone Calls With Putin, Zelensky

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia, plans to present the president with options to end the Russia-Ukraine war in the coming weeks, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 11.

Ukraine, U.S., Russia: Ukraine Envoy To Present Trump Options in Coming Weeks

U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration was looking to trade continued U.S. military support to Ukraine for "rare earths and other things," the Financial Times reported on Feb. 4.

Ukraine, U.S., Russia: Trump Wants Ukrainian Minerals in Return for U.S. Military Support

Energy

European officials are discussing the potential resumption of Russian pipeline gas exports to the European Union as part of a broader settlement to end the Russia-Ukraine war, the Financial Times reported on Jan. 30, citing sources close to the discussions. 

EU, Russia: EU Debates Controversial Russian Gas Resumption as Part of Potential Ukraine Peace Deal

Assessments

(Left to right) U.S., Saudi and Russian officials attend a meeting in Riyadh on Feb. 18, 2025.

While the talks open the door to a ceasefire, the exclusion of Ukraine and its European partners creates the risk of a deal that is not enforced and fails to end the fighting.

What To Expect From U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Rwanda

Israel

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Sri Lanka

Damage on Feb. 13 in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Social Issues

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Mideast Ceasefires and Arab Gaza Proposals, the AU Summit

Ecuador

Jordan

Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks to the press in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Meets With India and Jordan's Leaders, Ecuador Holds Elections

Media

Podcasts

Is the Russia-Ukraine war Putin's Vietnam?

Essential Geopolitics: The Implications of U.S.-Russia Talks on War With Ukraine Part II

Is the Russia-Ukraine War Putin's Vietnam?

Essential Geopolitics: The Implications of U.S.-Russia Talks on War With Ukraine, Part I

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on during a joint press conference with Poland's prime minister in Lviv on Dec. 17, 2024.

Despite growing pressure from the U.S. and Russia, Zelensky will resist proposals for Ukrainian elections and/or a ceasefire if he believes the terms would be political suicide for him and an affront to his country's interests.

How Will Peace Talks and Potential Elections Impact Ukraine's Political Stability? 

Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a speech during a state awards ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow on Dec. 16, 2024.

The negotiations are unlikely to quickly yield a ceasefire, as Trump pressures the Kremlin for a deal with sanctions pressure and the prospect of continued support to Ukraine.

How Will U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Play Out in the Months Ahead?

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2025 Annual Geopolitical Forecast.

2025 Annual Geopolitical Forecast Webcast

U.S.-China Relations

Columns

On Geopolitics

Germany

A compressor gas station of the Yamal–Europe pipeline is seen on Feb. 19, 2022, in Wloclawek, Poland. 

The expiration of the Russia-Ukraine transit deal underscores Europe's ongoing efforts to sever its reliance on Russian resources, with far-reaching implications for energy markets and geopolitics in the region and beyond. 

The End of Russian Gas via Ukraine Cements Europe's New Energy Landscape

Angola

Cote d'Ivoire

Ghana

Nigeria

Argentina

Brazil

Canada

Mexico

Algeria

Iran

Iraq

Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Tunisia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

China

Taiwan

Belarus

Pakistan

World map on a dark digital background representing global communication and global finances.

Cyber

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2025 highlights high-impact, low-probability risks and trends from the annual forecast presented in more extreme terms.

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2025

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025. 

2025 Annual Geopolitical Forecast: An Excerpt

Cargo containers painted with Chinese and U.S. flags.

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our hits and misses in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2024 Annual Forecast

U.S.-Iran Relations

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Criticizes Zelensky Ahead of Putin Summit

India, Qatar: Qatar Pledges to Invest $10B in India

Europe, Russia, Ukraine: EU Approves New Sanctions Against Russia, Prepares Military Aid for Ukraine

Europe, Ukraine: Europe Demands a Seat at the Negotiating Table for Ukraine

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Holds First Official Phone Calls With Putin, Zelensky

Ukraine, U.S., Russia: Ukraine Envoy To Present Trump Options in Coming Weeks

Ukraine, U.S., Russia: Trump Wants Ukrainian Minerals in Return for U.S. Military Support

EU, Russia: EU Debates Controversial Russian Gas Resumption as Part of Potential Ukraine Peace Deal

Forecasts

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